Citroen tour is one sexy way to see Paris

Classic French car attracts attention

The double-whammy of retro-cool: a Citroen 2CV driven by a pretty blond - Clea Massiani - at the base of the Eiffel Tower.

Photograph by: Steve MacNaull
, for Postmedia News

As soon as Clea Massiani appears blond hair flowing behind the wheel of a Citroen 2CV, I fall in love.

I'm married, but for the next hour-and-a-half Massiani - and her car - will be the objects of my affection.

After all the sun is shining in Paris and she's taking me on a city tour in the iconic little car that charmed France - and the rest of the world - for the entire time it was in production from just after the Second World War to the early 1990s.

"These cars put a smile on everyone's face. Just you watch, even non-nonchalant Parisians will wave at you."

We strike out in Louise, this baby-blue 1973 Citroen 2CV has a name, and indeed people on the sidewalks smile, point and wave and other motorists on the road honk.

I want to drive, but insurance restrictions at 4 Roues Sous 1 Parapluie (translated literally to "four wheels under an umbrella" in reference to the cars simple semi-convertible design) mean I have to be content riding shotgun.

Massiani points out the City of Light's greatest hits - and they are plentiful and resplendent in the sunshine - from the Eiffel Tower, River Seine, NotreDame Cathedral, the National Assembly and Place de la Concorde to the Alexander III bridge, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Tracadero, Louvre and Opera House.

"This is my favourite stop," she announces as we pull up at the base of the Eiffel Tower.

I don't know if she's just saying that because tourists go gaga over France's - and the world's - most famous structure.

But I soon find out a Citroen 2CV at the Eiffel Tower is the double-whammy of retro-cool.

People actually take a break from snapping pictures of the tower and turn their attention to capturing pictures of the car with Eiffel in the background.

Massiani clearly likes the attention.

She poses for pictures, answers questions about Louise and hands out company brochures - it's a prime marketing opportunity after all.

But Massiani draws the line at letting people climb into the car for photos.

At least for this hour-and-a-half that's our domain and as a result I feel special.

Of course, she's biased, but Massiani calls it "the best way to see Paris."

I agree.

I'll return to certain landmarks for more extended visits, but wow was it a blast to first see them from the seat of a Citroen 2CV.

The hour-and-a-half Citroen tour costs about $85 per person and the car can take up to three passengers.

For a complete change of pace, our tour group chose to try out a new concept in Paris - a free two-hour walking tour of the trendy Montmartre neighbourhood with Discover Walks.

Of course, nothing's really free.

The guides hope you are so impressed that you tip generously so they can make a living.

And we were enamoured with our guide Alexandre Gourevitch.

"I never lecture my tour groups," he tells us.

"I just wander the neighbourhood with them and give some insight where I can."

The approach works.

He starts with an explanation that we are in BoBo Land - meaning Montmartre's roots may have been edgy, alternative and artsy, but now it is the turf of bohemian bourgeoisie, those that like to think they are artsy but have executive jobs to pay Montmartre's inflated real estate prices.

Montmartre is also where the Moulin Rouge is - the cabaret that in the 1800s was out of town and thus able to offer patrons from Paris to the south the scandalous entertainment of girls doing the cancan and tax-free drinks.

In keeping with the non-stuffy approach, Gourevitch suggest we take a break and sit down at the Relais de la Butte cafe to people watch and sip kir royale (champagne and blackcurrant liquor).

We also map out the rest of tour to fit the interests of the group.

That means a swing by the Cafe Les Deux Moulins, which has become the most photographed cafe in France because it's where parts of the movie Amelie were shot; dinner at Le Moulin de la Galette (where Auguste Renoir painted his 1876 masterpiece of commoners in a bar Le Bal le Moulin de la Galette); a stop at the statue of dead singeractress-sex symbol Dalida to rub her breasts (it's the done thing) for good luck and increased sex appeal; and, of course, a quick prayer at famous hilltop cathedral Sacre Coeur.

If you go

- Air Transat flies non-stop to Paris from more Canadian cities than any other carrier: Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec City. TransatHolidays.com.

- A well-located hotel like the Mercure Sacre Coeur where we stayed in stylish Montmartre can be packaged with a Transat flight.

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